In Sandy's aftermath, Rampone proves to be Stainton's teammate for life

The Stainton family (left) of Rian, Rick, Kylie and Amy sits with the Rampones of Reece, Christie, Rylie and Chris.

Separating them from their final appearance together for the Monmouth University women's soccer team were 17 years and countless experiences, including careers, marriages and families.

But if anything has been learned in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, it's that the bonds formed in the competitive arena are among the strongest and longest-lasting.

So when Amy Stainton, her husband, Rick, an assistant women's soccer coach at Seton Hall, and their two children found themselves displaced, their waterfront home in Brick flooded out along with two cars, one phone call among the many offers to help was particularly persuasive.

"I offer them to stay with us, and she was kind of not saying much," said Manasquan's Christie Rampone, known to the rest of the world as the captain of the U.S. Women's National Team.

"I know it's hard at times like this to say 'yes.' You never think you're going to need the help. So I pretty much demanded and said 'You're moving in on Thursday. This is where you'll be staying, no questions asked.' And the only rule I said was there's no crying in the house. We're going to get through this."

Back in the day, they were Christie Pearce and Amy DeValue, still the most prolific scorers the Hawks have ever known, finding the back of the net 143 times between them.

Now their two families, including Rampone, her husband Chris, and their two children, will spend anywhere from six to eight months under the same roof, or as long as it takes for the Stainton's to remediate the water damage.

"People who know Christie know she's very mild mannered," said Stainton, "but when she says something to you out on the field, you listen. You know she is giving you guidance and direction.

"A week after the storm everybody was like, 'Come stay with us, come stay with us,' and I was like, 'Thank you, thank you.' And she called me up and told me to pack my bags. It was like being out on the field again. That's why she's the captain of the national team. I was overwhelmed at that moment, but I trusted her."

Among the various sports communities, few are knit tighter than the soccer family. Everyone seems to know everyone else, and Rampone, Stainton and many of their former teammates have remained close friends over the years.

When Rampone was winning her third Olympic gold medal this summer in London, Stainton was part of a group of 10 former players, along with their families, who gathered to watch one of their own in the final.

As the Nor'easter was approaching the week after Sandy struck, and the Stainton's needed to finish the tear-out on their first floor before a mandatory evacuation, a group from the Neptune Soccer Association - Amy's club growing up and where her oldest daughter, Rian, now plays - showed up to help.

"There are no words for how Rick and I feel about how the soccer community has helped us and continues to help us," Stainton said. "To this day, they continue to gather around and anything we need, they're right there for us."

There will be four piles of presents under the Christmas tree at the Rampone residence this year instead of two.

And then, on Feb. 1, Rampone will introduce Stainton, who she calls "an amazing friend," at her induction into the Monmouth Athletic Hall of Fame, the original ceremony having been postponed by the hurricane.

Added Stainton: "Soccer is unbelievable. You may not be walking on the pitch together anymore, but you never walk alone."

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In Sandy's aftermath, Rampone proves to be Stainton's teammate for life

Separating them from their final appearance together for the Monmouth University women's soccer team were 17 years and countless experiences, including careers, marriages and families.But if anything

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